Running For Answers (Book 2 Of Running Series)

Chapter 19 - Drowning In Tears

"Tay...Tayte...wh...What?"

"Sssh, conserve your strength," Arii and Noah smiled at me with tears in their eyes, "Support him, I'm going to cut him down"

I was strung like a piece of meat, my wrists tied tightly above my head together hanging from a hook, feet on tiptoes to even get near the floor. I was topless and my body was cut and bloody and bruised. My arms killed, my legs heavy, body burning in pain, brain working overtime to stay awake. Tayte cut me down and I sagged into Noah and Arii's arms, Tayte knelt down next to me,

"I...I'm so...rry" I said,

"Hey, you don't need to be sorry, we've got you now" Noah said softly,

"I...I love...love you all" I croaked as a tear fell from my eyes and rolled down the side of my face "Sorry," my eyes then rolled to the back of my head and I went limp and everything stopped hurting and I stopped feeling,

"Keane, buddy wake up"

"Keane, come on Keane"

"KEANE"

...

"It's always hard to lose someone so young, parents should never bury their children. Keane Joey Linkoln was..."

"This is what's going to happen if you don't stop being superman", a man with a blacked out blurry face in a suit said,

"They look...shit. They look like they've given up, so sad, pale, thin. Oh God"

"Because you've killed them, not in a physical sense, but metaphorically and mentally you have. It might not to be them that get killed, it might just be you, but without you they may as well be dead too" I watched my brothers and sister, Angelo, Tammara, Harvey and Donna, Talina,

"I don't know all these people"

"But they all know you. Some you have yet to meet, but you have to understand that a lot of people care about you. So pull your finger out and fight this and no matter what, you remember that the world isn't yours to carry and that family is life"

I sat up suddenly, exhaling. I was in bed, the room was quiet. I ran my fingers through my hair and took a breath. I then noticed Tayte sat on the sofa sleeping, I smiled.

He was honestly more than just a brother to me.

I picked up a pillow and threw it at him; he jumped in shock, smiling when he saw me,

"Hey" I said,

"Hey" He replied, "You're looking better"

"You know what. I feel better"

"It's nice to hear that"

"So where is everyone? What's going on? Did Talina speak to that Zayler Fernandez? What time is it? How long did I sleep?" Tayte looked at me, "What?"

"It's been a week Keane. You've been out for a week"

"What'd you mean?"

"You've been sleeping, or out of it for a week. Only getting up to go to the loo, but you weren't with it, so...you kind of..."

"Wait did I piss myself?" Tayte laughed,

"No, but let's put it this way, there's nothing I haven't seen..."

"Okay I get it, thanks brother," he chuckled,

"We had to force water down you, since you wouldn't eat. Tammara's friend came through though. Your name was cleared and so was Noah, no record no nothing. It's 8.30pm and Angelo, Noah and Arii are getting ready. Talina's taking them out for dinner. It's been a rough week and everyone's down hearted about you and the fact we're no closer to finding your parents. Talina thought it'd be good for everyone"

"I'm sorry Tayte. I'm sorry for everything. I promise I won't try and be superman any more. I love you Tayte and I love Noah and Arii and I can't let anything happen to any of you, I won't let anything happen to you. I understand that you're there for me, like I'm there for you. I'm just so sorry" he got up and hugged me, I wrapped my arms around him,

"I know and it's okay. I promise you it's all okay," I let go after a few minutes and said,

"Are you not going out for dinner?"

"No, I'm staying with you"

"Well. I'd like to go," he looked at me, "This is a good thing. I might not eat much, but I want to go out. It's about time we became a family again. I know I'm not fully cured, but I'm getting there and I want everyone to be happy again, at least happier then they are now"

"I think that would be good, come on" I pulled on a t shirt and climbed off the bed, wobbly at first, Tayte's hand shot to my shoulder,

"I'm okay, honest. This is what happens when you sleep for a week"

"Just take it easy okay, just for now. You're only going to get the same speech from everyone else"

"I can't wait" I teased as we left the bedroom. We found everyone in outside sat at the table,

"Keane?"

"I'm back"

<<<

But how long will it last?

Unedited

Love you so much

Thank you for reading x

GTRx

Copyright © Georgia T R Wing